Zoo mourns death of silverback gorilla | People

Volunteers and staff at the Oklahoma City Zoo are mourning the death of a Western lowland gorilla.

Bom Bom, a 36-year-old silver back gorilla, died after going into cardiac arrest on Monday.

He was the leader of one of the zoo’s two troops of lowland gorillas and could be seen often inside the Great EscApe.

Bom Bom arrived at the Oklahoma City Zoo in 2002 from New Orleans as part of a breeding plan.

Bom Bom and his mates had two offspring during his lifetime.

Native to the lowland forests of Africa, Western lowland gorillas are critically endangered.

If you would like more information, or share your memories of Bom Bom, visit the Zoo’s Facebook page.